Online Casino Foes Exaggerate Online Gambling Problems

May 22, 2009 | News Category: Gaming Law

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Opponents of online casinos are still making swooping statements regarding Internet casinos that do not fit with the results of studies, and simply ignore facts to the contrary that are available.

There are those who say that Barney Frank's online gambling bill should not be adopted because online casinos deceive their players into believing that they will be able to use gambling income to take them out of their economic problems. Tom Grey of Stop Predatory Gambling is one of those that feel strongly that the Frank gambling bill should be defeated.

Grey said "If it (online gambling) were such a great product, you would think that we'd all be able to gamble ourselves rich." He continued to say that it seems that Barney Frank feels that the personal freedom of United States citizens, allowing them to do anything they wish to do, is of such great importance that it does not matter to him that gamblers could lose their homes "with the click of a mouse without ever leaving it (their home) by gambling inside."

The assumption that Grey seems to be operating under is that online casino gamblers believe that they will constantly be hitting jackpots. However, casino gambling revenue has shown that since the world economy has taken a downward turn, so has online casino revenue. This seems to indicate that players are most likely playing for entertainment, and not in the belief that they will solve their financial problems. When they have less money, they play less.

In the United States alone, last month's figures that were released by the American Gaming Association, showed a drop in national casino revenues by a full five percent, which seems to be the continuation of a trend for more than a year.

Grey argues against the supporters of the Frank bill by saying that adopting the bill is asking players to invite gambling into their own homes, which "seems to me the height of irresponsibility on the part of a government that ought to protect and serve us."

The question seems to be: At which point is the individual trusted and deemed to be a responsible member of society? Governments that treat their citizens like children will find that they need to take away cars, motorcycles, non-prescription drugs, power tools, and any other items that could pose a potential threat to individuals. Online casino players enjoy the excitement of gambling and the leisure time associated with casinos.

Online casino players have recently been playing games with lower stakes such as penny slots and table games with cheap limits. Surely this indicates that they are not expecting to always win jackpots, but are simply playing for the pleasure of the game.